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Halloween

Halloween was not always a night of costumes, parties with creepy finger foods, and trick-or-treating within our neighbourhoods to receive candy.

The modern concept of Halloween evolved from an ancient festival that has roots and traditions dating back to Celtic Druids.

An ancient Celtic festival, Samhain (pronounced Sow-in), a term referring to end of the summer, included bonfires and wearing animal heads to ward off ghosts.

The Celts celebrated the new year on November 1 and on the night before, Samhain celebrations took place.

Samhain marked the end of summer and the harvest, and the beginning of a dark, cold winter, which was associated with death.

The time around Samhain was sometimes called ‘a’ Mhios Dhubh (the Black Month)and the darker, winter months were called ‘na Miosan Marbha (the Dead Months).

It was believed at this time that a veil was lifted, or a boundary was blurred between the world of the living and the world of the dead; for one night, dead ancestors could walk amongst the living.

The Druids would build sacred bonfires, burning crops and animals as sacrifices (if the animal could not be kept alive during the harsh, winter months) on Samhain and they often dressed in grotesque costume to ward off ghosts, but also to not be recognizable as living amongst the dead.

It was also during Samhain, when Celtic Druids (priests) had an easier time making predictions for the future with the aid of the spirits, using apples, candles or nuts, which probably evolved into the present day tradition of treats or candy.

By the 9th Century, Christianity had spread into the Celtic lands and around 1000 A.D. the church marked November 2 as ‘All Souls’ Day’ to honour the dead.

It is believed that this transition and introduction of a new festival, was the churches attempt to replace the Celtic “pagan” festival of the dead.

‘All Souls’ Day’ was not much different from Samhain, celebrating with bonfires and dressing up. Rather than grotesque costumes to ward off the dead, people would dress up as angels, saints and devils.

Another name for for the newly church-sanctioned holiday was ‘All-hallows’ from Middle English, ‘Alholowmesse’, which means ‘All Saints’ Day’; the night before became known as ‘All-hallows Eve’.

When these traditions first came to North America, primarily the colonial New England area, it was met with opposition due to rigid Protestant beliefs.

As more immigrants entered the Americas, bringing their traditions with them, many of those traditions evolved and continued on within the colonies, which most likely helped popularize the celebration of ‘All-hallows Eve’.

Eventually, people living in North America began dressing up on that evening and would travel house to house, asking for food and money, before the cold, dark winter months ahead.

It wasn’t until the late 1800s that the modern concept of Halloween began to take shape, moving into a tradition more about community and get-togethers, rather than ghosts, pranks and witchcraft.

By the 20th Century, Halloween became more secular and candy was given out to those walking around, to prevent pranks or vandalism, which evolved into “Trick-or-Treating”.

In fact, the tradition of ‘Trick-or-Treating’ has roots dating back to ‘All Souls’ Day’.

In England, the poorer citizens would beg for food and would be given pastries called ‘soul cakes’, in return to promise to pray for a family’s dead relatives. This was called ‘going a-souling’.

As with many traditions that we celebrate today, from Halloween to Christmas, there is a sure, historical line dating back to ancient origins.

It was to prepare for the dark, winter months by burning what wouldn’t make it through that season, while asking for food and money to survive until the lighter months came back (Imbolc).

Despite the fact that our religious beliefs are not that of the Druids, and the advancements with housing and the lack of food shortages in North America, we still continue the tradition of our ancestors.

People continue to get dressed up as ghosts, witches and devils on Halloween, so we are not recognizable; pranks are still attempted and as well as trying to scare others; people still go door to door asking for something, in the modern case, candy.

The ancient traditions and beliefs of the Celtic Druids might not be practiced in North America; bonfires might not be lit; animals won’t be sacrificed; the “pagan” traditions of the Celts might be all but dead. As people continue to celebrate Halloween, the ancient traditions will never be completely lost.

The tradition of Samhain, warding off ill-spirits and preparing for the cold, dark winter months, is not all that different today.

It continues on in a modern version of ‘All hallows Eve’, a night when the veil is lifted and the darkest, coldest months are ahead; a night when the living and dead walk together.

No matter what it is called - Halloween, ‘All-hallows Eve’, ‘All Saints’ Day’ or Samhain, on October 31 many continue the ancient tradition of dressing up to not be mistaken as living on an evening where we enter ‘na Miosan Marbha (the Dead Months).

- with notes from History.com and ‘A Handbook of the Scottish Gaelic World’ (Michael Newton)